Jewish Holidays 2012-2013

All holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the date specified in the tables below. For example, if the dates for Rosh Hashana were listed as Sep 19-20, then the holiday begins at sundown on Sep 18 and ends at sundown on Sep 20. Dates in bold are yom tov, so they have similar obligations and restrictions to Shabbat in the sense that normal "work" is forbidden.

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Major holidays

HolidayHebrew Year 5773Description
Rosh Hashana Sep 17-18, 2012 The Jewish New Year
Yom Kippur Sep 26, 2012 Day of Atonement
Sukkot Oct 1-2, 2012
Oct 3-7, 2012		 Feast of Tabernacles
Shmini Atzeret Oct 8, 2012 Eighth Day of Assembly
Simchat Torah Oct 9, 2012 Day of Celebrating the Torah
Chanukah Dec 9-16, 2012 The Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights
Purim Feb 24, 2013 Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar
Pesach Mar 26-27, 2013
Mar 28-31, 2013
Apr 1-2, 2013		 Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread
Shavuot May 15-16, 2013 Festival of Weeks, commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai
Tish'a B'Av Jul 16, 2013 The Ninth of Av, fast commemorating the destruction of the two Temples

Minor holidays

HolidayHebrew Year 5773Description
Tu BiShvat Jan 26, 2013 New Year for Trees
Purim Katan Minor Purim celebration during Adar I on leap years
Shushan Purim Feb 25, 2013 Purim celebrated in Jerusalem and walled cities
Days of the Omer 7 weeks from the second night of Pesach to the day before Shavuot
Pesach Sheni Apr 24, 2013 Second Passover, one month after Passover
Lag B'Omer Apr 28, 2013 33rd day of counting the Omer

Public fasts

HolidayHebrew Year 5773Description
Tzom Gedaliah Sep 19, 2012 Fast of the Seventh Month
Asara B'Tevet Dec 23, 2012 Fast commemorating the siege of Jerusalem
Ta'anit Esther Feb 21, 2013 Fast of Esther
Ta'anit Bechorot Mar 25, 2013 Fast of the First Born
Tzom Tammuz Jun 25, 2013 Fast commemorating breaching of the walls of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar

Modern holidays

HolidayHebrew Year 5773Description
Yom HaShoah Apr 8, 2013 Holocaust Memorial Day
Yom HaZikaron Apr 15, 2013 Israeli Memorial Day
Yom HaAtzma'ut Apr 16, 2013 Israeli Independence Day
Yom Yerushalayim May 8, 2013 Jerusalem Day

Special Shabbatot

HolidayHebrew Year 5773Description
Shabbat Shuva Sep 22, 2012 Shabbat that falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Shabbat of Returning)
Shabbat Shekalim Feb 9, 2013 Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Adar
Shabbat Zachor Feb 23, 2013 Shabbat before Purim
Shabbat Parah Mar 2, 2013 Shabbat of the Red Heifer
Shabbat HaChodesh Mar 9, 2013 Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan
Shabbat HaGadol Mar 23, 2013 Shabbat before Pesach
Shabbat Chazon Jul 13, 2013 Shabbat before Tish'a B'Av (Shabbat of Prophecy/Shabbat of Vision)
Shabbat Nachamu Jul 20, 2013 Shabbat after Tish'a B'Av (Shabbat of Consolation)
Shabbat Rosh Chodesh When Shabbat falls on Rosh Chodesh
Shabbat Machar Chodesh When Shabbat falls the day before Rosh Chodesh

Rosh Chodesh

HolidayHebrew Year 5773Description
Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan Oct 16, 2012 Beginning of new Hebrew month of Cheshvan
Rosh Chodesh Kislev Nov 15, 2012 Beginning of new Hebrew month of Kislev
Rosh Chodesh Tevet Dec 14, 2012 Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tevet
Rosh Chodesh Sh'vat Jan 12, 2013 Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sh'vat
Rosh Chodesh Adar Feb 10, 2013 Beginning of new Hebrew month of Adar
Rosh Chodesh Adar II Beginning of new Hebrew month of Adar II (on leap years)
Rosh Chodesh Nisan Mar 12, 2013 Beginning of new Hebrew month of Nisan
Rosh Chodesh Iyyar Apr 10, 2013 Beginning of new Hebrew month of Iyyar
Rosh Chodesh Sivan May 10, 2013 Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sivan
Rosh Chodesh Tamuz Jun 8, 2013 Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tamuz
Rosh Chodesh Av Jul 8, 2013 Beginning of new Hebrew month of Av
Rosh Chodesh Elul Aug 6, 2013 Beginning of new Hebrew month of Elul